Picture-frame hanger



(No Model.)

M. LESTER, Jr.

7 PICTURE FRAME HANGER. No. 341,024. Patented May 4, 1886.

"To all whom, it may concern NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON LESTER, JR, OF SUFFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

PICTURE-FRAME HANGER.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,024, dated May 4, 1886.

Application filed January 15,1886. Serial No. 188,671. (No model.)

Be it known that I, MILTON LEsTER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Suffield, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Picture-Frame Hangers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to devices for hanging picture-frames, &c., the object being to construct a device of this character by means of which the frame may be suspended from the wall at any angle desired, and which may be readily detached and attached in position to the wall.

A further object is to provide a simple, cheap, and thoroughly effective device for this purpose, which will be strong and durable, so as to withstand the strain and weight of the picture-frame.

\Vith these ends in view the invention consists in certain details of construction, combination, and arrangement of its parts, as will be herein fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved picturehanger in position,and Fig.2is a similar view showing the manner of detaching the frame from the hanging means.

Referring to the diawiugs, in which similar letters of reference denote like parts thereof, A designates my improved picture-hanger, which is composed of the bail or yoke B, the terminal ends of which are bent to form hooks I) b, which are adapted to engage the screw eyes If If, screwed in the lower end rear faces of the frame C. The central portion of this bail or yoke 13 is doubled and twisted to provide an eye or loop, D, with which engages the screw-eye or hooked nail d, that enters the wall to hold the said bail or yoke in position. A link, E, is also fastened at one end to the loop or eye D, and has its front end provided with a loop, 0, which is adapted to engage any one of the links on the chain F,to hold the frame at any desired angle from the wall. The front link of the chain 1* is secured by a screweye, f, in the top of the frame C, on the rear face thereof, near the center,so that the frame will hang even on the wall.

The operation of my invention is as follows: hen it is desired to hang a picture, the ends of the yoke B are sprung inward, so that the hooks on said ends may be insertedinto the screw-eyes If b. The screw-eye dis passed through the loop or eye D into the wall, and the link E, which is connected to the eye D, has its hooked end 6 engaging any one of the links of the chain F, which chain is secured to the frame at the top thereof, about the center, by the screw-eye f. \Vhen it is desired to remove or detach the frame from the wall,by releasing the hook e on the link E from the chain F the frame will drop downward and be held by the hooks b I), as shown in Fig. 2, when by springing the terminal endsof the yoke B inward the hooks are disengaged from the screw-eyes on the frame, and the latter can then be removed from the wall without detaching the hanging means.

It will be observed that the yoke or bail, being constructed of wire and bent in the form shown, gives a spring action outwardly to the arms of the yoke or bail, causing the hooks on the sides of said arms to bind tightly in the screw-eyes and hold the picture from being detached. It will also be seen that the connection of the hooked end 011 the bail or yoke with the screw-eyes on the frame allows the latter to have a swinging or lateral move ment, so that in case the wind should blow in through the room against the picture it will not become detached or jarthe fastening means, but will sway slightly with the wind.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction herein shown, as many modifications may be resorted to without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention or departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

By changing the hook on the link E to any one of the links on the chain the top of the frame may be thrown farther in or out, and thus vary the inclination of the picture-frame as desired.

The facility with which the picture-frame may be detached from the fastening means is the particular feature of my invention. It will be observed that the frame may be detached without removing the yoke B or the link E, the said parts being retained in position to the wall by the screw-eye d, and thus the necessity of removing the fastening means is entirely obviated.

My device may be used for other purposes than that of hanging pictures, and hence I do not wish to be limited to such use alone.

I am aware that it is old to construct a picture-hanging device comprising a cord having its ends secured to staples on the inner side of the frame and its central or upper portion held to the wall, in connection with a chain adjustably connecting the upper end of the frame to the wall.

Iain also aware that it is old to provide a hanging or supporting device in the form of a bail or yoke, the ends of which are received in journals provided on the inner side of the frame.

Having thus described my claim- 1. The combination of the spring-wire bail or yoke B, having hooks at the ends to engage eyes at the lower inner side of the pictureframe, with a chain, F, connected at one end invention, I

to the upper end of the frame, and a link, E, to connect the opposite end of the chain detachably to the wall, as set forth.

2. The combination ofthe spring-wire bail or yoke B, having hooks to engage eyes at the lower inner side of the picture-frame, with a chain, F, connected at one end to the upper end of the frame, an eye, D, provided at the upper end of the bail or yoke, and a link, E, connected to the eye D, and having a hooked end to engage any one ofthe links of the chain, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON LESTER, J R.

Vitncsses:

D. V. GRIFFIN, \VARREN W. Ooornn. 

